Idle cutoff solenoid; how does it work?

[bobcity]

Still dooking it out with my 28/32 ADHA. I've been having that idle problem on and off since I got the car several months ago. Once it was a disconnected vacuum advance line that fixed it, another time I tried loosening the idle cutoff solenoid per something I saw here in another post. That helped too. Now, thought, since cleaning some of the carb with cleaner and removing and cleaning solenoid I can't get it to idle below 2500. Tried replacing O ring too.
The only other thing I've adjusted is the idle adjustment screw. Haven't touched the mixture screw.

So did I break the darn thing?

It clicks & buzzes when I try to check it with ignition on and solenoid out and grounded.

I would like to know exactly how it works. I think it closes some fuel passage when it's on.

Can anyone explain it or point me to an explaination?

I'm trying to find a new one on line too.

Thanks

[So Cal Mark]

the solenoid closes off the idle circuit when power is removed from it. If the idle speed is that high, you either have adjusted the idle speed too high or the fast idle cam is staying engaged, or you have a huge air leak

[bobcity]

If the idle speed is that high, you either have adjusted the idle speed too high

So, let me elaborate.

I can back out idle adjustment screw to the point where it is not functioning. Then back out the solenoid a tiny bit and engine will run at a fast idle, I'm not sure, maybe 2000 rpm. Now I screw the solenoid in finger tight, and the engine stalls. OK, so now I try to adjust the idle screw to make it idle. No can do. It's either too fast or stall. I have to say, it seems to me like the idle circuit is not working.

When you say "Hugh air leak" would that be in the carb?
I'll recheck everything again.

I'm using the tach on the dash so maybe not accurate but close enough.

[So Cal Mark]

the solenoid isn't used for speed adjustment; it shuts off fuel flow through the idle circuit. If the car stalls when it's tight, either the solenoid isn't working, the idle jet is restricted, the idle mixture screw is out of adjustment, the idle speed is incorrect or there is a vacuum leak.

[bobcity]

Thanks ... I didn't mean to imply I was using the solenoid to adjust the speed only reporting the phenomenon that lightly loosening did affect it. I thought I read that here, guess not. I've cleaned the jet a few times now and that made no difference. It seemed like the problem started when I went at the carb and jet orifice with the carb cleaner, don't know anything else I did. I ordered the part so hope it come so.

After thought. Since it seems the idle jet is closed at idle, Is there any way to trick the idle jet into being open all the time as a temp fix?

[So Cal Mark]

remove the solenoid, pull the jet from the end, then cut off the pintle with a pair of side cutters, reinstall the jet and solenoid. It will then be eternally bypassed. If the engine speed increases when you slightly loosen the solenoid, the idle circuit is too lean. By loosening the solenoid you allow fuel to flow around the outside of the idle jet instead of thru it. Carb cleaner can cause trouble by washing dirt into small orifices. Best to follow up the spray with compressed air to clear all of the passages

[bobcity]

The perfect answer to a poorly worded question.

Much thanks